Pets can be one of life’s greatest joys. They also bring one of house cleaning’s greatest challenges: fur! The problems of pet fur are magnified when you own more than one pet, or acquire a long-haired or heavily shedding breed. But even pet owners with a single, low-shed animal will find that pet hair becomes one of their main cleaning issues.
Since we clean many homes with pets, we’ve had to become experts on this topic. Nothing ruins the feeling of a good clean like furry upholstery, cabinets, or air vents. And the soft thick stuff has a way of sticking to everything - even the areas that might not normally be looked at during routine cleaning. What many people don’t know is that its static electricity combined with low humidity that create the ultimate conditions for pet fur to stick around. The tips below will help you combat the static problem and become a master cleaner.
First, though, the number one solution to excess pet hair is to start with your pet itself. Brush often. Many pet owners find the Furminator does an exceptional job of removing fur. The goal should be at least two days a week, or better yet, every day. But let’s be real, some pets hate brushing. And many pet owners can’t find the time to spend methodically removing fur from their cat or dog multiple times a week.
That’s where cleaning comes in. Here are some tips for how you can conquer the pet fur in your life. Or, if even the thought makes you tired, call us instead!
Upholstery:
Nothing substitutes for a great vacuum when dealing with fur on upholstery. As professional cleaners, we own the ultimate in cleaning tools and accessories for sticky cleaning items, like fur. But if you don’t have the right vacuum for dealing with fur on fabric, there are a few other things you can try.
A damp rubber glove. Simply running your hand, clothed in a slightly damp rubber glove, over the offending furniture item, will reduce the static levels, allowing the fur to move from the furniture to your glove. As fur collects you can rinse the glove off and begin again. The amount of fur you can collect is truly amazing!
Hard Furniture Surfaces:
A soft cloth combined with a good anti-static cleaning spray or old fashioned furniture polish, will be effective at removing fur from hard surfaces. Your biggest challenge with fur on hard furniture surfaces is, again, static. The use of anti-static spray or cleaning polish helps break that static bond. This will allow you to do more than merely move the fur around. In order to create a cleaner environment, you have to fully remove the fur, not just displace it. This method allows you to do so with a few simple wipes.
Carpets:
Carpets with a lot of fur require serious vacuuming. This is where great tools come in. The ultimate in fur vacuuming requires a vacuum that beats deeply into the carpet while using a strong suction to pull the hair into the machine. Vacuuming is most effective when it is repeated several times and the machine is used in two different directions across the carpets.
For excess fur you can also use a pumice stone. Pulled across a carpet, a pumice stone will collect large amounts of excess fur. This tip is probably best for areas of carpet that are hard to reach with a vacuum.
Hard Floors:
On the other hand, when cleaning hard floors, many vacuums can become the problem rather than the solution. Vacuums have a tendency to blow furballs around the room and spread clouds of fur back up onto furniture surfaces. If the amount of debris on the floor is excessive, a vacuum may be needed to do first level cleaning. If, however, you are dealing with normal dirt and fur issues, try using a microfiber dry mop instead of a vacuum. The fur will stick to the microfiber mop, creating a better level of cleanliness.
These tips will help you to reduce the fur in your home and maintain a cleaner and healthier environment. And whatever you do, don’t forget to use lint rollers to manage the stubborn fur that is inevitably attracted to you each time you pet or hug your animal. Keeping your clothing clean will help keep your furniture clean too!